Online and making connections some ideas

Don’t let social-distancing become an impediment to cultivating important relationships in your life, particularly those with your children and grandchildren. 

ZOOMING in with family 

Sometimes a discussion is all that’s needed to support your whole family and to make you feel more connected. Skype is one of the original video-conferencing apps, and when we think of video conferencing many of us think of Skype. However, technology and society have changed and there are many newer options available for video conferencing. These include Zoom, Facetime, Whatsapp, GoogleDuo, Facebook Messenger, Houseparty and Google Meet. It all comes down to personal preference and many seniors do not like to use the phone for video conferencing, so look for programs that can be used on the laptop, desktop or Tablet.

Reading Bedtime Stories using Video Conferencing 

My grandson lives in a different part of the world and the time differences make it difficult to read a bedtime story to him. But there are alternatives, you could video yourself reading a book and send the video to your grandkids.

Video Messaging Rather Than Texting

Any type of connection between us and our loved ones is important. I have friends who use the phone, or they will text and email. There is another app that is not quite video conferencing but not quite texting, it is called Marco Polo, and is like a video walkie-talkie.

Teaching a Skill

Earlier this month my grandson had a school assignment where he had to learn a new skill from one of his grandparents and he chose my wife. She taught him how to make Shrimp tarts and Butter tarts. We thought of using ZOOM, or Skype but time differences made that impossible. So, we decided to Videotape the lesson and send it to him. We did that by using Google Drive and allowing my daughter access to the file. We could have posted it on YouTube but my wife did not like the idea of a video of her being public.

Playing Games Online

Playing games together is another way for grandchildren and grandparents to share quality time, even remotely. Some appealing games for grandparents include virtual chess and checkers, which can be played on a web page called Tabletopia. You can also play games such as Uno via Facebook or use multiplayer gaming apps like Words with Friends, Scrabble GO, and Yahtzee with Buddies. Other fun online games for long-distance family members include Monopoly, Mario Kart Tour, Skribblo, or even interactive games like Pictionary or Charades. While these long-distance game nights with grandparents and grandchildren may not always go smoothly, laughing and talking together while figuring out logistics is part of the fun.

Exploring a Museum

Ready to experience some culture as a family? Numerous museums across the globe have interactive sections on their websites or offer virtual tours. Pretend you’re in France, visiting the Louvre, or enjoy the wide variety of artifacts exhibited online by the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art or National Museum of Natural History. Whatever subjects strike your fancy, no doubt there is an institution that provides a gateway for a fun, educational online experience that you can share with your grandkid. 

Technology and Seniors Gift ideas

 Since seniors are more at ease with technology, you could consider a gift of technology for the elders in your life.

If you want to video-chat with your folks more easily, and with more regularity, get an Amazon Echo Show smart display.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is smaller than a single paperback book yet can carry thousands of books at a time.

If the elder in your life has trouble hearing dialogue in movies, TV shows, podcasts, or radio broadcasts then consider a Zvox AccuVoice AV203 miniTV speaker. It’s like a mini soundbar, but without complex bells and whistles. AccuVoice is based on hearing-aid technology, useful for those who may be hard of hearing.

To help manage climate control consider a Honeywell Home Lyric T5 smartthermostat.

If you have someone who likes to watch TV late into the night and doesn’t want to bother everyone else in the house, consider buying them a pair of wireless home theatre headphones. The Sennheiser RS 165 kit includes a pair of wireless headphones and a base station that connects directly to a TV’s audio output.

If someone enjoys listening to music all around the house, the Sonos Onetabletop speaker is a multiroom wireless speaker. It has Google and Alexa built into it, so they can just say ‘Play Bruce Springsteen,’ and it’ll work for them.

The TravelCard Charger is a great gift for a parent because it’s ultra-slim and compact enough to hide in their wallet or pocket. You never know when someone will need a charger, and keeping it tucked away in something as indispensable as a wallet means it will always be there when needed.

If the elder you are buying for already has everything else on this list but haven’t bothered to update their router, TP-Link’s Archer A7 may be just what they need. The Archer A7 may not be the best router overall, but it’s good, and it comes reasonably priced.

The ultimate gift for your favourite morning grump, the Philips Somneo helps make waking up easier with a simulated sunrise. There's also a sunset mode for relaxing, plenty of soothing nature sounds, and music options, and several light settings including nightlight and reading modes.

Video chatting is a convenient way to catch up with the grandkids, or far-flung friends. The Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is a super cheap webcam that has high-definition video quality and is easy to use, with no drivers to install. It works easily with several applications, including Skype.

QardioArm is a sleek, portable blood pressure monitor that makes the perfect gift for any loved one who suffers from high blood pressure or is tasked with monitoring it. allows users to check their blood pressure anywhere, anytime, and works by wirelessly connecting to the user’s smartphone.

Seniors with medications to manage every day will appreciate MedMinder's reminders of when to open a pill compartment. The device's built-in cell service connects to a monitoring station, so no phone or wireless network is needed. You can also buy refill

If someone you know is having trouble sleeping and are thinking about taking medications for better sleep.  There is a product called SleepPhones designed specifically for seniors. Relaxing music with binaural beats is built into the patented and ultra-comfortable headband headphones. With the touch of just one button, you can turn on the SleepPhone Simple to play start your favourite sleep track and then it will automatically shut off when done.

Technology, survey results

 According to a  survey commissioned by AGE-WELL, and done by Environics Research, conducted between July 16 and July 27, 2020, of 2,026 Canadians over the age of 50 older Canadians have upped their use of many technologies and online services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other key findings:

Technology Use

·       88% of Canadians aged 65+ use the Internet daily;

·       30% of those 65+ are streaming; over 4 in 10 (45%) of them report increased online streaming due to COVID-19;

·       52% of Canadians aged 50+ had a telehealth appointment in the past 3 months, and 79% of those who had one were satisfied with it. Experience with video appointments are still limited (7%);

·       Over a quarter (29%) of Canadians 65+ use social media for “health, wellness and/or independence” (of whom 42% report utilizing it more due to COVID-19);

·       Among those 65+, 68% use Facebook (up from 63% in 2019), 40% use YouTube (up from 37%), 19% are on Instagram (up from 15%), 18% use Twitter (up from 16%), and 16% use WhatsApp (up from 11%);

·       17% of Canadians 65+ use video calls on a desktop or laptop; 56% of whom report increased use due to COVID-19;

·       13% of Canadians 65+ now use exercise or activity apps or trackers; one in five (19%) of those have increased their use due to COVID-19;

·       13% of those 65+ engage in online activities such as book clubs and games; 50% of whom have ramped up these activities due to COVID-19;

·       11% of Canadians aged 65+ use voice-assisted tech, e.g., Google Home; 18% of whom are using this tech more due to COVID-19;

·       7% of those 65+ use food delivery apps; 45% of whom have increased their use of these apps due to COVID-19.

Current Attitudes

·       48% of Canadians over the age of 50 are optimistic about ageing (compared to 56% in 2019);

·       66% of Canadians, aged 50+ have felt isolated at least some of the time during COVID-19;

·       Half of respondents feel that technology has had a positive impact on their lives during COVID-19 (45% say neither positive nor negative);

Technology that “manages independence” is most popular, with over half of users of techs/services such as wearable digital devices, online shopping for essential items, exercise/activity trackers and webinars/online classes reporting a positive impact on their health and wellness.

To ensure seniors continue to use technology it is vital that new technologies are user-friendly and practical, including for people with disabilities. Connectivity is another challenge. “Despite the increasing use of technology by seniors, some people are still losing out and there is a digital divide between the technology haves and have-nots and that need to be addressed.

Technology, seniors and COVID

COVID-19 has significantly increased the use of many technologies among older Canadians: poll.

According to a  survey commissioned by AGE-WELL, and done by Environics Research, conducted between July 16 and July 27, 2020, of 2,026 Canadians over the age of 50 older Canadians have upped their use of many technologies and online services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey shows that two-thirds (65%) of Canadians aged 65 and older now own a smartphone, compared to 58% in 2019, and most who own one (83%) use it daily.

During the pandemic, seniors have increased their use of video calls to communicate with family and friends. About a quarter (23%) of Canadians 65+ now use video-calling on their smartphones, twice as many as in 2019; 6 in 10 of whom report increased use due to COVID-19.

When it comes to social media, so popular with a younger demographic, older adults are populating the platforms too. Over one-third (37%) say they use social media to communicate with family and friends (of whom 4 out of 10 reports utilizing it more as a mode of communication due to COVID-19).

And with many seniors staying at home more during COVID-19, two in 10 (19%) of Canadians 65+ are using online shopping for essential items, like groceries, for “health, wellness and/or independence” (of whom 6 in 10 report utilizing it more due to COVID-19).

The survey results show that 72% of Canadians aged 65 and over feel confident using current technology.

 The new survey also looks at the impact of COVID-19 on age-related concerns among older Canadians, who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. About half of respondents aged 50+ are now more concerned about the health and about losing loved ones. Forty-six percent are significantly or more concerned about moving to a nursing home, and 43% feel that way about moving to a retirement home.

On the positive side, over two-thirds (66%) of Canadians over 50 agree that technological advancement can help to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on daily life. The majority agree that technological advances can help them maintain relationships with family and friends, reduce social isolation, pursue hobbies, manage health, maintain mental health and stay safe, independent and active as they age.

The poll also found that half of Canadians aged 50+ are willing to pay out-of-pocket for technology that helps manage health and wellness. 7 in 10 are willing to pay out-of-pocket for technology that allows them to stay at home as they age.